Joseph h



J. H. MILLER (No Model.)

VEHICLE BRAKE.

No. 569,342. Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

Josaymfla amn NiTED STATES rrrcn.

PATENT JOSEPH H. MILLER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANKLIN SPRINGER, OF SAME PLACE.

VEHICLE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 569,342, dated October 13, 1896.

A lication filed December 6, 1895. Serial No. 571,301. (No model.)

To all whom 712'; may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-l3rake, of which the following is a specification. r

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle-brakes.

The obj ectof the present invention is to improve the construction of the operating mechanism of vehicle-brakes and to provide a curved ratchet and a detent or pawl which will be capable of locking the brake-shoes in engagement with the wheels of the vehicle, and which may be readily manipulated by a single operating-lever without employing a latch-lever at the handle of the operating-lever for releasing the pawl or detent.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brake-operating mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention, the pawl being in engagement with the rackbar. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, the pawl being thrown out of engagement with the ratchet by the rearward movement of the operating-lever. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the pawl.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a curved ratchet constructed in the ordinary manner and designed to be mounted on the side 2 of a wagon-body and adapted to be engaged by a substantially L- shaped pawl 3, which is provided at the lower edge of one arm with a beveled tooth at. The L- shaped pawl 3 is pivoted at its angle by a pin 5 or other suitable fastening device with a pair of oscillating bars 6, disposed radially with relation to the curved ratchet and pivoted at their lower ends by a suitable fastening device 7, such as a bolt or the like. The oscillating bars are disposed at opposite sides of the curved ratchet, and a pair is preferably provided in order to form a guide for the pawl.

The tooth 4 of the pawl is arranged at the lower edge of the rearwardlyextending arm thereof, and this arm of the pawl is weighted in order to hold the tooth normallyin engagement with the ratchet, and the other arm of the pawl extends downward beyond the curved ratchet, and is interposed between the pair of oscillating bars 6 and an operat- 6o ing-lever 8. The operating-lever S is fulcrumed at its lower end on the fastening device 7. It is guided 011 the ratchet-bar, being provided with an opening to receive the same, and it is loosely connected above the ratchet with the upper ends of the oscillating bar 6 bya link 9, which permits the operating-lever a limited movementindependent of the oscillating bars in order that the operating-lever in moving rearward may engage the depend- 7o ing arm of the pawl and lift the tooth at out of engagement with the ratchet. By this construction the operating-lever is adapted to release the pawl from its engagement with the ratchet, and a latch-lever for operating the pawl or detent is dispensed with.

The link 9 receives the fastening device 5 of the pawl and also a fastening device 11 of the operating-lever. The tooth 4: is beveled at its front side, and is adapted to slide readily over the ratchet-teeth when the operating-lever is drawn forward to apply the brake.

The pawl 3 is preferably provided with two sides, as shown, for embracing the ratchet, but this construction may be readily changed, if desired, and only one oscillating bar is absolutely essential. The lower ends of the sides of the depending arm of the pawl are connected by a transverse fastening device, which is interposed between the operatinglever and the oscillating bars. The oscillating bars have secured between them one end ing bars and provided, intermediate of its,

ent that the operating-lever is adapted to throw the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet in order to dispense with a separate device for operating the pawl.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any advantages of the invention.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a curved ratchet, an oscillating bar disposed radially with relation to the ratchet, an operating-lever fulcrumed at the lower end of the bar, located in advance of the same and having an intervening space between its rear edge and the front edge of the bar, a substantially L-shaped pawl pivoted at its angle on the oscillating bar, extending forward and rearward from the same and having its rear portion or arm weighted and engaging the ratchet, the front portion or arm extending downward below the ratchet and having a transverse portion located in advance of the bar and arranged in the space between the same and the lever, and means for connecting the lever and the bar to permit the former to have a limited movement independent of the latter, substantially as described.

In a device of the class described, the combination of a curved ratchet, a pair of oscillating bars located at opposite sides of the ratchet and pivoted at their lower ends, an operatin g-lever fulcrn med at its lower end between the lower terminals of the oscillatends, with an opening receiving theratchet,

an L-shaped pawl pivoted at its angle at the upper ends of the bars, extending forward and rearward from the same, the rearwardlyextending arm being weighted and engaging the ratchet, and the forwardly-extending arm being composed of two sides located at opposite sides of the ratchet and extending downward below the same, a transverse fastening device connecting the lower terminals of the sides of the pawl and located in the space between the lever and the oscillating bars, and a link connecting the lever and the bars, substantially as described.

3. In a device of. the class described, the combination of a curved ratchet, an oscillatin g bar disposed radially with relation to the ratchet, an operating-lever fulcrumed on the pivot of the bar and located in advance of the latter, a link 9 loosely connecting the operating-lever and the bar, and a substantially L-shaped pawl pivoted on the bar independently of the lever, having its rear arm weighted and engaging the ratchet, and havin gits front arm interposed between the lever and the bar and adapted to be engaged by the former, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. MILLER. Witnesses:

FRANKLIN SPRINGER, J, H, GUNER. 

